Means and method for winding diverse weft bobbins on a loom



June 1967 R. s. SCHEDIN ETAL 3,327,737

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEFT BOBBINS ON A LOOM Original Filed July 22, 1963 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ROBERT S. SCHEDIN CARL A. JOSEIFHjON M BY 1 ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 R. s. SCHEDIN ETAL 3,327,737

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEF'T BOBBINS' ON A LOOM 0." Bo B4 N INVENTORS I29 I33 ROBERT s. SCHEDIN CARL A. JOSEPHSQN |25 a; YQMAW ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 R. S. SCHEDIN ETAL Original Filed July 22, 1963 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 223 I87 |94 '90 7-1 4 v Hin h 1 I hm.

INVENTORS ROBERT S. SCHEDIN CARL A. JOSEPHON BY (0M ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 R. s. SCHEDiN ETAL 3,327,737

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEFT BOBBINS ON A LOOM Original Filed July 22, 1963 ll Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS ROBERT S. SCHEDIN I CARL A. JOSEPHSON 5 Y B 6ZTTORNEY June 27,1967 R. s. SGHEDIN ETAL 3,327,737

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEFT BOBBINS ON A LOOM Original Filed July 22, 1963 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 F- IG. 8 F L- 9 June 27, 157 a SCHEDIN ETAL 3,327,737

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEF'I ROBBINS ON A LOOM Original Filed July 22, 1965 ll Sheets-Sheet '7 FIG. 14 FIG. l5

INVENTORS ROBERT S. SCHEDIN June 27, 1967 R. s. SCHEDIN ETAL 3327,73?

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEFT BOBBINS ON A LOOM Original Filed July 22, 1963 ll SheetsSheet a INVENTORS ROBERT S. SCHEDIN 327 CARL A. JOSEPHSON ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 R. s. SCHEDIN ETAL 3,327,737

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEFT BOBBINS ON A LOOM Original Filed July 22, 1965 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 F IG 3 i 6 63 1625 9 I6 0 0 I67 2 75 6 ISI '46 6O 4 #2;- i I he 83 l r '2 0 @J I60 i I55 14 'm I25 FIG. 3-5

INVENTORS ROBERT S. SCHEDI June 27, 196 R. s. SCHEDIN ETAL MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEFT BOBBINS ON A LOOM ll Sheets-Sheet 1 0 Original Filed July 22, 1963 INVENTORS ROBERT S. SCHEDIN CARL A. JOSEPHSON ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 R. s. SCHEDIN ETAL 3,327,737

MEANS AND METHOD FOR WINDING DIVERSE WEFT BOBBINS ON A LOOM Original Filed July 22, 1963 ll Sheets-$heet 11 FIG. 50 .50l n a? 503 I88 5 ,190

2825 D 5oa 3 2 5- 539 Q 537 506 INVENTORS 535 50 I 52 23! so; ROBERT s. SCHEDIN k 52: 309 526 CARL A. JOSEPHSON i J y 545 53: TY 52? Q w h I ATTORNEY United States Patent 7 Claims. (Cl. 139-224 This application is a division of and discloses and claims only subject matter disclosed in our co-pending application Ser. No. 296,783, filed July 22, 1963, titled, Means and Method for Winding Diverse Weft Bobbins on a Loom.

This invention relates in general to looms operating with a plurality of shuttles, each carrying a weft bobbin diverse with respect to the other bobbins and replenishable upon depletion thereof with a corresponding weft bo bin to that depleted, and in particular relates to a means and method of controlling a supply of diverse weft bobbins to the loom for the depleted shuttles during operation of the loom and in accordance with a given order of shuttle depletion.

Certain types of looms that have gone into extensive use have been provided with a mechanism to supply weft bobbins to the loom during operation thereof, such mechanism being in the form of a bobbin winder on a loom as shown, for instance, in the Goodhue et al. Patent No. 2,638,936, issued May 19, 1953. A principal disadvantage of this winder mechanism is that it is incapable of winding diverse weft bobbins and is limited to winding bobbins with weft having a single characteristic such as color, size,

etc. Another disadvantage, in consequence of the first disadvantage, is that the weave pattern, as far as the weft or so-called filling is concerned, is limited to a single weft characteristic, thus disadvantageously reducing the versatility of the loom with respect to weaving of so called fancy pattern fabrics with multi-characteristic wefts.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to eliminate the disadvantages discussed above by providing simple means to render a winder, such, for example, as shown in the above cited Goodhue et al. patent, capable of winding diverse weft bobbins as required by the loom, thus effecting a multi-weft winder for the loom.

It is another object of the invention to include weft feeding means having a plurality of heads as part of said simple means whereby each head has normally and releasably clamped thereto a weft diverse with respect to the other wefts each of which can be selectively positioned to a weft pick-up station with respect to an empty bobbin on the multi-weft winder after which the bobbin is subsequently fed and wound with a released weft in accordance with a selectivity, the heads deriving their source of diverse wefts from so-called weft packages or cones.

Another object of the invention is to provide said simple means with a weft pick-up means movable to said weft pick-up station to grasp a selected weft from said head when so positioned to present the weft to said empty bobbin for attachment thereto and winding thereon, said weft pick-up means being connected to weft releasing means operating to release the selected weft at the pick-up station incident to weft pick-up by said weft pick-up means, and said head after said weft attachment having a traversing motion along the length of the bobbin to feed weft thereto.

Another object of the invention is to rovide means to effect clamping of the selected weft to the head after the bobbin has been wound, and also to provide weft cutter means to sever the weft after a bobbin has been wound and the weft clamped.

3,327,737 Patented June 27, 1967 ice It is another object of the invention to provide a multiweft reserve bobbin magazine to receive wound bobbins from the multi-weft winder to store diverse weft bobbins in respective groups corresponding to the Weft characteristics of the bobbins and to relinquish a bobbin from any group upon a need of the loom, said magazine being provided with partitions to form compartments for said groups, certain of the partitions being formed with bobbin distributing means including independently movable bobbin guided means operable to establish an open relationship with the compartment corresponding to the bobbin to be wound and simultaneously establishing a closed relationship with the remaining compartments to insure distribution of a wound bobbin to its proper compartment and group.

Another object of the invention is to provide the magazine with mechanism to selectably relinquish the type of diverse bobbin required by the loom for a so-called weft replenishing operation to incorporate the weft of the bobbin into the weaving process, the mechanism including a symmetrical, intermittently rotatable cam for each compartment and group of bobbins therein to coact with support means for its group of bobbins, each half of each cam effective when rotated to cause reliuquishment of a bobbin from its group while maintaining the remainder of the group of bobbins in the compartment.

It is another object of the invention to provide the loom with sensing means to signify a need for bobbin replenishment for any given shuttle upon depletion thereof and to initiate a magazine setting operation whereby the cam is partially rotated to effect reliuquishment and removal from the magazine of a diverse weft bobbin corresponding to that depleted for said replenishment, said sensing means capable of successively signifying a need for bobbin replenishment for a plurality of shuttles upon depletion thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide memory means to initiate a winding cycle to wind a bobbin of the type removed from the magazine to replenish a depleted shuttle having a depleted bobbin corresponding to that removed from the magazine, said memory means acting to initiate said winding cycle to wind bobbins upon signification of depletion of a shuttle and removal of a bobbin from the magazine to maintain storage of the respective groups of bobbins in full capacity.

It is another object of the invention to make the memory means in the form of a discriminating unit and provide the latter with a plurality of independently movable indicator means, one for each type of diverse bobbin or group thereof, operable to store a variable plurality of significations for each type of diverse bobbins and also operable to discriminately schedule the winding of bobbins to supply said magazine therewith in accordance with the greatest amount of said significations followed by the winding of bobbins successively of the next lesser amount, each indicator means when moved capable of initiating said winding cycle and maintaining same until said supply for each type of reserve bobbin is fulfilled.

Another object of the invention is to provide the memory device unit with actuator means to selectively move the indicator means in one direction from a nonindicating position to an indicating position to signal the winder to wind a bobbin of the type required, the indicator means acting to initiate a winding cycle when moved to said indicating position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide the memory means with cancelling means supported by slidable block means and movable with said indicator means in the direction of movement thereof and also movable with said slidable means in a transverse direction away from and toward the indicator means to engage same to cause movement thereof in a direction opposite to said one direction toward said nonindicating position to cancel signals to the multi-weft winder after the latter has been indicated to start a winding cycle, the cancelling means having variable movements in said transverse direction to cancel said signals in an order independently of that in which the signals were given to the winder.

It is another object of the invention to provide first control means connected to the slidable means and including a one-rotation clutch and cam responsive to initiation of a winding cycle to have a single rotation to move said cancelling means in said transverse direction such that the cancelling means after said rotation will engage one or another of the indicator means.

Another object of the invention is to provide operative connections between the slidable means and said weft feeding means to effect selective positioning of a weft to the weft pick-up station depending upon the variable movement of said slidable and cancelling means.

It is another object of the invention to provide movable weft feeding stop means connected to the slidable means to limit the extent of the traversing motion of the weft feeding means such that when each of the wefts carried by the heads when being wound on a bobbin will terminate at the same place along the wound bobbin at the finish of said traversing motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide operative connections between the slidable means and the bobbin guide means of the magazine to effect movement of the guide means according to the movement of the slidable means, said operative connection including a slidable plate supported by the magazine and having cam slots for cooperation with said guide means to move the latter in said closed and open relationships with respect to the compartments of the magazine.

A further object of the invention is to provide second control means responsive to said first control means to cause the weft pick-up means to move to and grasp the selected weft at the weft pick-up station and thence move therefrom to present the weft for attachment to the bobbin to be wound and also to cause rotation of the bobbin to wind the weft subsequent to initiation of a winding cycle and presentation of the weft to the bobbin, said second control means including a one-rotation clutch and cam attached thereto to effect pick-up of the selected Weft and rotation of the bobbin to be Wound.

A further object of the invention is to provide bobbin transferring mechanism as part of the magazine to transfer a selected bobbin removed to a transfer position from the magazine into a corresponding depleted shuttle, said transferring mechanism being operatively connected to said memory means to effect movement of an indicator means corresponding to said bobbin from nonindicating position to indicating position whenever said mechanism transfers a bobbin.

A further object of the invention is to provide the loom with a reserve bobbin magazine of the type described hereinbefore wherein each compartment thereof is provided with single means to effect movement of a corresponding indicator means from nonindicating position to indicating position to initiate a winding cycle upon removal of a bobbin from a compartment, said single means beng operatively connected to the indicator actuator means to cause said movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loom with'a modified reserve bobbin magazine similar in many respects to the preferred form of the magazine but wherein each compartment thereof is provided with a pair of movable means operatively connected to electrical circuitry means to a corresponding indicator means to effect movement thereof from nonindicating position to a first and a second indicating position, as the case may be, to initiate a winding cycle upon removal of a bobbin from the compartment manually and also by setting of the magazine for a weft replenishing opeartion as set forth herein with respect to the preferred form of the invention, the indicator means being moved to said first indicating position when one of the plurality of movable means is moved due to removal of a single bobbin from the compartment and being moved to said second indicating position when the plurality of movable means is moved due to a multiple removal of bobbins from the compartment.

And still another object of the invention is to eliminate the indicator actuator means and attendant connecting parts to the magazine, as described in the preferred form of the invention, when said modified reserve bobbin magazine is utilized with said plurality of movable means and said circuitry means.

And yet a further object of the invention is to provide a method of controlling a multi-weft winder to wind bobbins to supply a reserve bobbin magazine with diverse weft bobbins to replace corresponding bobbins removed from the magazine due to weaving requirements to maintain the magazine in full capacity.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example four embodiments of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a loom having the preferred form of the invention applied thereto,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view looking in the direction of arrow 2, FIG. 1, illustrating a bobbin sensing means with certain parts associated with the magazine,

FIG. 3 is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, FIG. 1, with certain of the parts removed,

FIG. 4 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 4, FIG. 3, as viewed from the front of the loom,

FIG. 5 is a partial end view of the magazine on a reduced scale looking in the direction of arrows 55, FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a sectional end elevation of the magazine taken along arrows 6-6, FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the memory unit device looking in the direction of arrow 7, FIG. 4, certain of the parts being in section and certain of the parts being broken away,

FIG. 8 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrows 88, FIG. 7, parts being in section and broken away,

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section taken along arrows 9, FIG. 7, with certain of the parts being omitted,

FIG. 10 is a vertical section on arrows 10-10 of FIG. 7

FIG. 11 is an end elevation of the memory device looking in the direction of arrow 11, FIG. 7,

FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the magazine and certain associated parts looking in the direction of arrow 12, FIG. 4,

FIG. 13 is a detail view of the bobbin control for one group of bobbins in the magazine, there being such a control for each group.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal vertical section through one of the indicator means on arrows 14-14, FIG. 11,

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing certain of the parts in a slightly different position,

FIGS. 16 to 21 inclusive are operational views illustrating the operation of one of the indicator means, certain parts being in section,

FIGS. 22 to 24 are operational views similar to a portion of FIG. 7 and illustrating the manner in which the cancelling means operates with respect to the indicator means,

FIG. 25 is an enlarged vertical section taken along arrows 2525 of FIG. 22 but showing certain of the indicator means in different positions,

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 25 illustrating the parts as having moved to another position,

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary view of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 25 but indicating the parts in a different relationship,

FIGS. 28 to 32 inclusive illustrate the operation of the weft pick-up means, a release for the clamped weft and the presentation of the weft after release to a bobbin to be wound, certain of the parts being in section and certain of the parts being broken away,

FIG. 33 is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrows 3333, FIG. 4, the weft pick-up means and the release for the clamped weft,

FIG. 34 is a horizontal section through the weft feeding means of one of the weft clamping heads taken on line 34-34, FIG. 28, and showing a clamped weft,

FIG. 35 is a horizontal section through the weft clamping head taken along arrow 3535, FIG. 31, and showing the weft released,

FIG. 36 is a vertical section looking in the direction of arrows 36-36, FIG. 34,

FIG. 37 is a vertical section looking in the direction of arrows 3737, FIG. 35,

FIG. 38 is a front elevational view looking in the direction of arrow 38, FIG. 4,

FIG. 39 is a detail view illustrating the one rotation clutch and cam attached thereto associated with the memory means,

FIG. 40 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of arrow 40, FIG. 16,

FIG. 41 is a fragmentary elevation looking in the direction of arrow 41, FIG. 16.

FIGS. 42 to 44 are schematic illustrations showing the operation of the bobbin distributing means for the magazine,

FIG. 45 illustrates an electric circuit employed in the preferred form of the invention, part of the circuit being utilized to show a circuit of one of the modified forms of the invention as used with the preferred circuit,

FIG. 46 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of the invention, certain of the parts being in section and certain of the parts being broken away,

FIG. 47 is a further modification of the invention illustrated schematically,

FIG. 48 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of the cancelling means,

FIG. 49 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one of the indicator means,

FIG. 50 is a fragmentary schematic view of another modified form of the invention illustrating a reserve bobbin magazine,

FIG. 51 shows a schematic circuitry means utilized with the reserve bobbin magazine just above cited and employed with the main circuit of the preferred form of the invention in place of the auxiliary circuit shown in the upper left-hand part of FIG. 45,

FIG. 52 is a partial elevation of the upper right-hand part of the memory unit in FIG. 7 and showing means forming part of the circuitry means of FIG. 51 to move modified bobbin winding indicator means to said first and second indicating positions,

FIG. 53 is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 53 of FIG. 52, certain of the parts being broken away and in section,

FIGS. 54 and 55 are fragmentary views illustrating the manner in which the means to move the modified indicator means operates, and

FIG. 56 is an enlarged partial perspective of the upper portion of the indicator means shown in FIG. 52.

General loom construction Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, right and left loomsides 1 and 2 respectively support a lay 3 for usual reciprocation back and forth during loom operation. The right-hand side of the lay is provided with a shuttle box indicated generally by the reference numeral 4 and the left-hand side of the lay supports a plurality of shuttle boxes, 5, 6, 7 and '8 for vertical reciprocation with respect to the lay. A plurality of shuttles 9, 10, 11 and 12 are selectively shifted to an active position for picking back and forth across the loom one at a time by the usual picker sticks 13 and 14. Each shuttle contains a bobbin 16, 17, 18 and 19 respectively carrying weft diverse with respect to each other to be incorporated into the fabric by the shuttles, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to bobbins having diverse wefts only.

The loom is provided with a so-called pattern head generally indicated by the letter H effective to reciprocate the shuttle boxes 58 to selectively place one or another of the shuttles in position for picking across the loom, depending upon the weave pattern of the fabric.

The right-hand side of the loom is provided with a bobbin sensing means generally indicated by the numeral 20, see particularly FIG. 2, to signify weft depletion and the need for bobbin replenishment of any of the bobbins in any of the shuttles during loom operation. The sensing means is supported by a stand 22, FIG. 1, attached to part of the loom frame. The sensing means includes a sideslipping finger 23, the rear end of which is provided with a bobbin engaging tip 24 to engage either of the bobbins 16-19, one at a time, when their respective shuttles arrive in shuttle box 4 and the lay moves forwardly as is usual. Finger 23 is pivoted as at 25- to a top slide piece 26 movable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to a fixed base 27 on stand 22. Piece 26 when moved forwardly rotates a short upright lever 28 fixed on one end of a short shaft 29 journalled in a stationary bracket 30 bolted to stand 22. A spring 32 around shaft 29 acts to maintain lever 28 against slide piece 26. The other end of shaft 29 carries a second upright short lever 33 which rotates when lever 28 does to move a chopper pin 34 from beneath a chopper pin lever 35 which has a regularly recurring rocking motion by reason of depending cam rod 36 and cam 37, see FIG. 1. The left hand end of chopper pin lever 35, FIG. 2, has pivoted thereto an upright rod 38, see FIGS. 1, 2 and 12, operatively connected to a slidable and rotatable shaft 39 on a multi-weft reserve bobbin magazine yet to be described and generally indicated by the reference numeral 40. A spring, not shown but well known, is housed in base 27 to normally urge the slide piece 26 and finger 23 rearwardly.

The matter thus far described, except for the sensing means as it relates to the present invention, is of usual construction and operates in a manner well known in the art, and it is deemed necessary only to state at this point that upon depletion of weft of a bobbin in any of the shuttles, finger 23 will side slip in the direction of arrow A, FIG. 2, to effect setting of the magazine 40, via chopper pin 34, chopper pin lever 35 and upright rod 38, for a weft replenishing or so-called bobbin transferring operation to replace the depleted bobbin in the shuttle with a corresponding wound bobbin. It is to be understood that the sensing means described herein is illustrative of but one example of sensing means to signify a need for weft replenishment and that other forms of sensing means may be readily utilized with the present invention whereby significations of weft depletion will effect setting of the magazine.

General construction of bobbin winding apparatus Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 38, the bobbin winding apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 44 is attached to the right-hand side of the m. The winder is provided with a casing 45 which houses a motor 46 to drive the winder mechanism. The winder is provided with a bobbin chute 47 to guide depleted bobbins when ejected from a shuttle into a bobbin stripper 48 from which the residue of weft is removed to completely rid the bobbin of weft. It is well known that during a weft replenishing operation that when a depleted bobbin in its shuttle reaches shuttle box 4 the depleted bobbin is ejected or transferred out of the shuttle by a wound bobbin and that the depleted latter usually carries a slight reserve amount of weft thereon. The winder has a receptor 49 located below the stripper 48 and at the bottom of the winder as seen in FIG. 1 to receive the empty bobbins.

The Winder is provided with a continuously driven conveyor belt 59 trained around upper and lower pulleys 52 and 53 respectively. The conveyor belt may carry one or more permanent magnets one of which is shown at 54 to convey empty bobbins to a trough 55 through which the bobbins are conveyed to right and left vertical chutes 56 and 57, chute 57 receiving the butt end 58 of a bobbin B, one of which is shown in FIGS. 4, 28 and 38. Also as shown therein, the butt 58 is provided with a set of usual metal rings 59 which are attracted to the magnet 54 as it passes through receptor 49 to convey bobbins to the trough 55.

A pair of levers, not shown herein but set forth in the Goodhue et al. reference, operates to carry bobbins one at a time from the chutes 56 and 57 to a spindle cup 60; see FIGS. 4, 28 and 38, for attachment of a bobbin thereto for a winding operation. The right-hand end of bobbin B has a bobbin tip 61 for rotational support by a stub-spindle '62 which is retractable after bobbin has been wound in order to release the bobbin from the winder. Stub-spindle 62 is supported slidingly in a housing 63 fixed to the winder frame. It is deemed unnecessary to further describe the structure or operation of the winder since the function thereof may be as that set forth in the above cited Goodhue et a1. Patent No. 2,638,936. Except as noted hereinafter with respect to winding multi-weft bobbins, the winder is similar to that described in the Goodhue et al. reference. It will be seen in the specification hereinafter that the present winder is provided with means capable of winding diverse weft bobbins, one at a time, and that the winder may be considered as bobbin supply means to furnish the magazine with a supply of reserve diverse bobbins.

Multi-weft feeding means In carrying the present invention into effect, the winder such as described above is provided with a multi-weft feeding means, shown in normal position in FIG. 4 between the memory means 86 and the winder and generally indicated by the reference numeral 64, and is slidably supported on a guide bar 65, see particularly FIG. 4, for longitudinal movement along the length of the bobbin to effect winding of a selected weft thereon. The weft feeding means carries a multiplicity of wefts and is provided with a plurality of heads 66, 67, 68 and 69 each of which has clamped thereto a weft diverse with respect to the other wefts. Each head is the same in structure and function and it is deemed necessary to describe only one of them, namely, head 66.

I Referring particularly to FIGS. 34-37, head 66 is provided with a passage 70 through which a weft 71 passes during a weft feeding operation. The head supports a sliding clamp'7 2 having a resilient head 73 at one end thereof to normally clamp the weft '71 as seen in FIGS. 34 and 36 against the "head. The clamp 72 is slidingly mounted in in the head 66 and is held in clamping position by a spring detent yielding lock means 74. An upright lip 75 extends above the head 66 to be engaged by weft releasing means to be described and generally designated by the number 76, see FIGS. 33 and 38. Sliding clamp 72 has left and right notches 77 and 78 respectively to receive the detent 74 to maintain the sliding clamp in locked or open relationship with the weft as the case may be. Detent 74 and notch 77 act to maintain the weft clamped while detent 74 and notch 78 act to maintain the clamp in open relationship, see FIGS. 35 and 37, to permit fee-ding of a selected weft through the passage 70. The weft feeding means is operably connected to a traverser bar, not shown but well understood, from which it receives short strokes during longitudinal movement along the length of the bobbin to effect winding of a weft thereon. A spring 79, see FIG. 4, has one end connected to the weft feeding means and 'the other end connected to the winder frame to'effect return of the weft feeding means after a bobbin has been wound.

The Weft feeding means has a rearwardly extending portion 80, FIG. 4, for engagement by a sliding bar 81 which acts to position either one of the heads, depending upon the selection, to a weft pick-up station generally designated at 82 and at which a series of cleats 83 are circumferentially located on the butt .58 of the bobbin B. The cleats act to pick up the weft to hold same to start the weft winding around on the bobbin. Slide bar 81 is mounted on a small frame 83' to move therealong for placement of one or another of the heads in said pick-up station. Slide bar 81 is connected to one end of a spring biased push-pull cable means considered as operative means for the weft feeding means and generally indicated by reference numeral 84 which is operatively connected at the other end as at 85 to amemory means 86, to be described hereinafter, the means acting selectively to place either head at the weft pick-up station.

The weft feeding means has depending therefrom a stop leg 87 for engagement with astop 88 which is movable transversely into the path of the feeding means and which permits traversing motion of the weft feeding means to move in a manner such that each of the diverse wefts terminates at the same point as at P, FIG. 4, adjacent the tip end of the. bobbin after the latter has been wound. The stop 88 is shown in its normal position and is provided with fourlevels 89, 90, 91 and 92 which respectively and selectively coact with leg 87 at the end of a winding operation. Stop 88 has its rear end 93 mounted in a T- slot 94 in a stop holder 95, see FIGS. 3, 4 and 38, the holder being slidingly supported on a pair of rods 96 and 97 on a stand 98 on the winding apparatus. The holder is connected to the forward end of a push and pull cable means 99 which is also operatively connected at its rear end as at 100 to the said memory means 86 which, as will be set forth hereinafter, acts to selectively place either of the levels 8992 opposite depending leg 87 according to which head is to feed weft to wind a bobbin. T-slot 94 allows stop 88 to be moved by leg 87 a slight distance in a direction along the length of the barrel to effect .closure of switch 116a, whereupon the winding of the bobbin will cease as will be set forth more fully hereinafter. After the bobbin has ceased to be wound, the weft feeding means will complete its traversing motion to cause the stop 88 to move said slight distance.

A fixed cam plate 108 on housing 63, FIGS. 4 and 38, is attached thereto adjacent the tip of the bobbin for en gagement with upright lip 75 to move the sliding clamp 72 against the head, FIGS. 34 and 36, in clamping relationship with the weft incident to stopping the winding of the bobbin. The clamping relationship just described will also apply to whichever head is feeding weft. A Weft cutter 109 is also supported on the housing and adjacent the tip of the bobbin to cut a weft after the latter has been clamped subsequent a winding operation.

. The cuttter 109 is provided with a tail 110 which extends into the path of an upright rod 111 secured to a slidable bar 116 on guide rod 117, FIG. 38, supported on the winder frame. Bar 116 has fixed thereto one end of a rigid wire 118, FIG. 4, which, together with mechanism (not shown) within the housing 45 as a modification of the Winder as set forth herein, is utilized to automatically form the usual tip bunch 119 after the body 120 of weft is wound as shown in dotted lines, FIGS. 4 and 38, the other end of rigid wire 118 being connected to said mechanism. When it is desired to dispense with the tip bunch, wire-118-and said mechanism is disconnected and the wound weft will terminate at point 89 and the winder will then be as disclosed herein to wind diverse weft bobbins without a tip bunch. Since winding of a tip bunch is well known in the art, it is deemed ony necessary to briefly mention at this point that wire 118 and said mechanism may be of the type utilized in the so-called and well known Schweiter tip bunch winder.

Referring now to FiGS. 3, 33 and 38, an upright support 125 is fixed to stand 98 on the loom frame and is formed with a vertical portion 126 provided with a groove 127 which guidingly mounts therein a vertical slide 128 for vertical reciprocation by a rock-able lever means 129 pivoted as at 130 to a bracket 132 fixed to support 125. The right-hand end of rocking level 129 as seen in FIG. 33 is provided with a roll 133 which rides in a cam groove 134 of a cam 135 normally idle on a loom driven stub shaft 136 having one end journalled in a stand 137, FIG. 4, mounted on a part of the loom frame, the other end of shaft 136 being supported in a bearing (not shown) also mounted on the loom frame.

Cam 135 is attached to a one-rotation clutch 133, FIG. 4, operating to couple cam 135 to shaft 136 subsequent to placement of one of the heads 66-69 to weft pickup station 82. The periphery of the cam has a lug 139 to actuate a switch 140, see also FIG. 45, for a reason to be described hereinafter. Since the one-rotation clutch is similar to that shown in pending Payne application, Ser. No. 87,237 filed Feb. 6, 1961, it is believed unnecessary to further describe the clutch herein.

The left-hand end of rockable lever 129 has a pin and slot connection 144 with vertical slide 128. Rotation of cam 135 operates to raise and lower the slide 128 subsequent to selection of the weft to be wound on the bobbin. The upper part of the slide 128 is provided with a weft pick-up means indicated generally by the reference 146 and is normally below weft pick-up station 82. The pickup means includes a carrier 147 pivoted as at 148 to the upper end of slide 128. A spring 149 normally holds the carrier against stop lug 150 on slide 128. A pair of weft grippers 151 and 152 are normally held closed by a spring 153, gripper 151 being on carrier 147 and gripper 152 on movable pivot 148. A camming member 154 is fixed as at 155 to the support 125 and is provided with a laterally extending projection 156 below camming member 154. Camming member 154 and projection 156 are engaged by carrier 147 for a purpose to be described. Rotation of the cam 135 effects up and down motion of the weft grippers 151 and 152 to cause gripping of the selected weft at the weft pick-up station when in the upward position, after which the grippers move down to draw the weft through the head to be presented to the bobbin to be wound followed by release of the weft by the grippers after the weft has been attached to the bobbin by the aforedescribed cleats, the cleats at this time will be rotating and will pull the weft from between the grippers to cause said release of the weft. The usual swinging wire 158, FIG. 28, assists the weft pick-up means to present the weft to the bobbin as in FIG. 32. As mentioned hereinbefore, the weft is clamped to the head and therefore the grippers draw the weft through the head, the weft is released by weft releasing means described directly below.

Slide 128, FIG. 33, has attached adjacent the bottom thereto a short link 160 which has one end of a flexible member 162. fixed thereto, the other end of the flexible member being attached to a rotatable disc 163 supported on a shaft 164 journailed in the winder frame above the weft feeding means 64. A spring 165 trained arourrd shaft 164, see FIG. 38, acts to rotate disc 163 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 33. A hub 166 extends from disc 163 and carries a spring biased dog 167 pivoted as at 168 to the disc and held by the spring 169 against a stop 170 extending from disc 163. The matter just described may be considered as weft releasing means connected to the weft pick-up means 146 by link 160, the releasing means acting to release a clamped weft at the pick-up station 82 incident to weft pick-up by the weft pick-up means as will be set forth more fully hereinafter in the description of the operation of the loom.

Reserve bobbin magazine and bobbin distributing means Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 12, the previously mentioned reserve bobbin magazine 40 is supported to the loom frame above shuttle box 4 as can readily be seen in FIG. 3. Magazine 40 is provided with an inner wall and an outer wall 181 which are joined by front and rear slanted Walls 182 and 183 respectively. Inner and outer walls have located therebetween partitions 184, 185 and 186 which form compartments or divisions 187, 133, 189 and 120. Each compartment or division respectively contains a group of reserve weft bobbins generally indicated by 191, 192, 193 and 194, each group of weft bobbins being diverse with respect to the remaining groups, there being one compartment for each type of diverse bobbin. As can be seen in FIG. 6, partition 184 is provided with a bobbin guide 196 pivoted as at 197 to the upper part of the partition. A second bobbin guide 198 is pivoted at 199 to partition 185. A third bobbin guide 200 is pivoted as at 201 to partition 186. A fixed bobbin guide 204 extends rearwardly from rear wall 183 to direct a bobbin downwardly towards the movable bobbin guides. The outer end of each pivot respectively carries a lever 205, 206 and 207, these levers being located just outside the outer wall 131. Each lever 205-207 respectively mounts a roller 208, 209, 210 which fits respectively into cam slots 211, 212 and 213 in a vertical flat plate 214. Plate 214 is shown in normal position and is mounted on the magazine on a pair of fixed pins 215 and 216 respectively in slots 21S and 21? in the plate 214. The rear end of plate 214 as seen in FIG. 3 has one end of a push-pull cable fastened thereto and generally designated by the reference numeral 220' which may be considered as plate actuating means. The other end of the cable is operatively connected as at 221, FIG. 4, to the memory means 86 previously mentioned and yet to be described. As will be more fully described hereinafter, plate 214 acts to rotate the guides 196, 198 and 200 independently of each other to open one compartment and close the remaining ones so that a wound bobbin will enter the proper compartment. The movable guides may be considered as bobbin distributing means. Inner and outer walls 180 and 181 may be provided with sliding doors shown at 223 and 224, FIGS. 6 and 12 respectively, to permit the loom operator to open either door to manually remove a bobbin from either of the groups 191-194. FIG. 6 shows door 223 partially open. Plate 214 may be considered as control means for the guide means 196, 198 and 200.

Below the magazine as shown in FIG. 6 a framework 225 houses bobbin supporting pivotal cradles 226, 227, 228 and 229 respectively for each group of bobbins 191- 194, the cradles supporting the groups of bobbins in the compartments 188-190 and may be considered as bobbin delivery means. Each cradle is operatively considered as bobbin delivery means. Each cradle is operatively connected to a cam C as shown in FIG. 13. Since each cam is identical, as is each cradle, it is deemed necessary herein only to disclose one cradle and one cam. The cam C is symmetrical on both sides of planes 230, 230 and 231, 231. The cam is provided with a rise 232 and a decline 233, rise 232 acting during a quarter of a rotation to rotate cradle 226 to the position shown in FIG. 6 under group 191 and the decline 233 acting during the second quarter of rotation to return the cradle to the position shown for instance in FIG. 6 at 227 to support the group of bobbins. The other half of the cam operates in the same manner as does the half just described. The framework 225 rotatably supports four pin discs 234, 235, 236 and 237, one for each groupof bobbins and each having a cam C attached thereto. Each disc has protruding therefrom a set of four pins 238, 239, 24 0 and 241 eachset respectively coacting with a pair of disc rotating fingers 242, 243, 244 and 245 which are capable of having relative motion toward and away from each other by reason of spring as shown in FIG. 12. Upon a call for a bobbin from a group, the left-hand finger is raised to give a quarter turn of cam C to relinquish a bobbin from the group and cradle and the right-hand finger is lowered to give the cam a second quarter turn to return the cradle to group supporting position. The operation just described is selective with respect to each disc in accordance with loom requirements for bobbins. A set of finger lifting dogs 246, one for each disc, is fastened on the previously mentioned slidable and rotatable shaft 39, there being a dog 246 for each pair of fingers and so separated with respect to each other that when one dog is under its corresponding fingers, the remaining dogs will be laterally spaced away from their fingers to permit rotation of one pin disc at a time. Only two dogs 246 are shown in FIG. 4.

As viewed in FIG. 12, the left-hand end of shaft 39 mounts fast thereon a collar 250 which is operatively connected to dogs 246. Collar 250 is connected to one end of a lever 251 pivoted to the framework 225. Lever 251 has one end of a chain 252 attached thereto, the other end of the chain being connected to the previously mentioned pattern head H as at 253. Shifting of the shuttle boxes -8 selectively by the head motion will place one or another of the shuttles in position for picking and will cause chain 252 to move lever 251 and a slide shaft 39 to effect selective placement of a dog 246 beneath its corresponding pair of fingers. Operation of rod 33 as described in relationship to FIG. 2 acts to rotate dogs 246 as is usual to raise and lower a selected pair of fingers.

The left-hand end of shaft 39, FIG. 10, mounts a pulley 260 for rotation therewith, pulley 260 having one end of a flexible cable 261 attached thereto, the other end being fastened as at 262 to a normally stationary pivotal indicator moving lever means 263 pivoted on shaft 264 on the memory means yet to be described. The pulley is keyed to shaft 39 and is refrained from sliding therewith by a pair of fixed ears 265.

A sliding tray 266, FIG. 3, is movable within the framework 225 and has four pockets 267, 268, 269 and 269a which are normally empty and below the groups of bobbins to receive bobbins one at a time respectively from the groups 191-194, pocket 267 receiving bobbins from group 191, the pocket 268 receiving bobbins from group 192, pocket 269 receiving bobbins from group 193 and pocket 269a receiving bobbins from group 194. The tray is slidable to the left and right, FIG. 3, to position a selected full bobbin in one of the pockets to a bobbin transfer position generally designated as at 270 from where the bobbin is transferred into a shuttle having a depleted bobbin with the same type of weft as the full bobbin. The framework 225 has a forwardly extending bracket 271 which pivotally mounts as at 272 a bobbin transport arm 273 fixed thereto and which acts to remove the bobbin from the pocket at transfer position 270 to move it downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3. A bobbin transferrer arm 274 is pivoted as at 275 to the loom frame and subsequent to positioning of the trans ferre-r arm 273 to said position the transferrer arm 274 will then move downwardly to engage the bobbin to transfer it into a shuttle in shuttle box 4 by reason of the usual transferrer latch and hunter 276 and 277 when the lay moves forwardly towards so-called front center position. Frame 225, the cradle therein, tray 266 and the means to move same, the mechanism described to rotate the cam shown in FIG. 13 form no part of the present invention except with respect to pulley 260 on shaft 39 and are as set forth in the above cited pending Payne application. Rotation of shaft '39 and placing of a bobbin in a pocket may be considered as setting the magazine for a weft replenishing or bobbin transferring operation.

Memory means top shelf 283 and a bottom shelf 284, see FIGS. 7 and 10. Bottom shelf 234 has pivoted thereto as at 285 a swing able lever 236 the lower end of which as at 287 is connected to a chain 238 trained around a sprocket 239, FIG. 3, the chain leading to the head motion H which moves the chain in accordance with the vertical shifting of the shuttle boxes so that the upper end of the rockable lever 286 will move to various positions in accordance with vertical shifting of the shuttle boxes. A return spring 286:: acts to rotate the lever counterclockwise when the boxes shift downwardly. The upper end is designated by numeral 290 and is operatively connected to a rotatable and slidable arm 291 of latch 300 to be described and pivotally mounted on the previously described shaft 264', the latter being supported by top shelf 283 of casting 281. The inner end of shaft 264 as seen in FIG. 9 rotatably supports pivotal guide means 263 as at 293. Pivotal guide means 263 has a depending part 294 from which a laterally extending portion 295 extends outwardly or to the left, FIG. 9, a distance sufiicient to support the movement of member 291. The lower part of arm 291 is provided with a depending tongue 297 which fits in a slot 293 in portion 295, FIGS. 7 and 9, to guide member 291 as it moves along shaft 264. Arm 291 is formed with a lifting latch 300 held in normal down position by a spring 300a and having a spring pressed tip 301 for engagement with indicator means generally indicated at 302, 303, 304 and 305. Casting 281 has an upright extension 306, see FIGS. 10 and 11, having a lateral guide plate 307 to guide the upper part of the indicator means. Lower shelf 284 guides the lower part of the indicator means. Extension 306 carries a channel iron 308 having thereon a switch 309 which when actuated by any of the indicator means initiates a winding cycle. A switch actuator 310 is interposed between the indicator means and the switch to effect actuation of the switch by any of the indicator means.

Each indicator means 302305 and associated parts are identical and it is deemed only necessary herein to describe one of them and its associated parts, namely, indicator means 305, see FIGS. 7, 11 and 14. Indicator means 305 is formed with a pair of spaced thin members 311 and 312 between which a vertical slot 313 is defined, the upper part of indicator means being made with a spacer plate 314 which may be considered as winder starter means and having its lower end integrally fastened to and between members 311 and 312 in slot 313 to maintain the members in spaced relationship. The lower end of indicator means 305 is provided with a cross pin 315 joining both members and having one end of a spring 316 attached thereto, the other end of the spring being attached to a depending spring holder 317 fixed to the under surface of lower shelf 284. The lower end has fixed thereto a finger grip 315a to move the indicator means manually to indicating position, if desired, it being understood that each indicator means has such a grip. Indicator means 305 is provided with a set of a plurality of teeth on the opposite edges of each of the members thereof and indicated generally by the reference numerals 318 and 319 as seen in FIGS. 14, 16 and 41. The teeth of each member on each edge coincide with each other to be in coextensive relationship for a purpose to be described. Each member 311 and 312 is formed with matching cut-out sections 320 and 321 just below thin plate 314, see FIG. 49. Each member 311 and 312 terminates above the notch to respectively define a pair of lifting surfaces 322 and 323 for engagement with a plate 324, see FIGS. 4, 7 and 9, yet to be described. The lower end of indicator means 305 is provided with a pivot 326, FIG. 14, which mounts a release lever 327 between the members 311 and 312. The bottom of indicator means 305 is made with a finger grip 305a to enable manual movement of the indicator means from tooth to tooth when desired. The upper part of release lever 327 is provided with a finger grip 328 for manual rocking of the 13 lever when desired. The upper end of lever 326 is formed with a button 329 in notches 320 and 321 for engagement with cancelling means to be described and generally designated 'by reference 330 which is associated with the previously mentioned plate 324 and on which the latter is pivoted as at 331 for relative movement therebetween.

Bottom shelf 284 pivotally supports thereon a pawl 332, FIGS. 14 and 40, for coaction with the teeth 319 to maintain the indicator means 305 raised in a plurality of positions until released by the release lever 327, there being a pawl for each indicator means. The lower end of pawl 332 is provided with hook teeth 334 which are spaced in the same direction as the indicator members 311 and 312 such that the hook teeth 334 may engage the teeth 319 of each member to limit partial down motion of the indicator means after edge 335 of the pawl has been moved around pivot 336 by the release lever 327. Spacing of the hook teeth permits movement of the release lever therebetween when the latter engages edge 335 to rotate pawl 332 counterclockwise. Spring 337 acts to place the edge 335 of pawl 332 against the indicator means to hold same. Teeth 318 coact with lifting latch 300 when the latter rocks counterclockwise, FIG. 7, to lift the indicator means 305. The latch tip 301, being spring pressed in a downward direction, permits the tip to give way when the latch is rocked clockwise to enable the latch to pass by the indicator means to return to its normal position,

The description of indicator means 305 and its associated parts given above applies to the remaining indicator means 302-305 and it is to be understood that although only four indicator means are disclosed herein the invention is not so limited and that more or less may be utilized as desired. It is to be noted that each indicator means is related to a particular shuttle so that a signification of weft exhaustion of the bobbin in the shuttle is transmitted to its corresponding indicator means to be raised one tooth by panel 300 which, at that time, will be opposite the indicator means due to the fact that the shuttle and its box have been shifted to active operating position. The plurality of teeth 318 permits successive plural indications of weft depletion for a shuttle if, for instance, the shuttle is running coarse weft in comparison to the re maining shuttles. Thus, each indicator means is capable of independently recording and storing the amount of empty bobbins to be scheduled for winding weft thereon for any particular shuttle so that the magazine may be supplied with a reserve of diverse weft bobbins to insure a sufliciency thereof for weft replenishing operations. The memory means operates as Will be seen hereinafter to schedule a supply of wound bobbins for the magazine and of each type required upon signification of the need for bobbins, said supply being furnished whenever a single bobbin has been removed from the magazine.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a slidable block 340 fits guidingly in a slot 341 made in shelf 283. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the left-hand end of block 340 has bolted thereto a sliding core 342 housed in sheath 343 of a telescopic rod generally indicated at 344. A second core 345 is also housed in sheath 343 and a spring 366 therein is interposed between the cores to permit contraction and expansion of the cores within the sheath. The left-hand end of core 345 carries a cam roll 347 to ride in a groove 348 of a cam 349 to effect variable lengths of reciprocations of block 340 in a direction away from and toward the indicator means 302305. The cam is attached to a one-rotation clutch 350, having a single revolution when switch 309 is actuated and mounted on a rotating shaft 351 suitably journalled in bearings (not shown) on the winder, both the cam and clutch to be more fully described hereinafter. Clutch 350 is similar to clutch 138 and as set forth in the cited Payne application.

Block 340 supports thereon the aforementioned canceling means 330 which includes a two-part carriage generally indicated by reference 340a, one part of which is 14 designated by the number 354 and the other part by 324 previously cited and both parts being pivoted as at 331 for relative movement therebetween, part 354 having stepped means for a purpose to be described. Block 340 mounts a vertical rod 355 surrounded by a vertically slidable hearing 356 made integral with part 354 of the carriage, see FIG. 9. Left and right-hand bolts 357 and 358 pass through part 324 and are threaded into part 354. Springs 359 and 360 respectively on bolts 357 and 358 are interposed between washers 363 and 364 respectively and part 324 to held the latter in yielding relationship with respect to part 354. Spacers 365 and 366 respectively on bolts 357 and 358 and between parts 324 and 354 maintain said parts in vertical spaced relationship. As seen in FIG. 7, the block has attached thereto previously described push and pull cables 99 and 220 as at 100 and 223 respectively.

Part 324 is provided with slots 367, 368, 369, 370, FIG. 4, to respectively receive spacer plates 314 of the indicator means 302-305, the slots remaining in register with the plates during all motions of the carriage 340a. The righthand end of part 324 remains in contact with the surfaces 322 and 323 of all of the indicator means when they are all down and in contact with the surfaces of either indicator means when raised, the carriage rising when an indicator means does.

Part 354, FIGS. 8 and 48, has pivoted thereto sets of elongated contact means to engage the buttons 329 of the release levers 327 between members 311 and 312 of the indicator means 202-305 to subsequently cancel indications of winding cycles, each set being associated with an indicator means, Part 354 has a pair of extensions 374 and 375 made respectively with ledges 376 and 377 on which contacts 378 and 379 respectively rest to limit down rotation thereof. The contacts are respectively pivoted on pins 380 and 381 set into part 354. The extensions and the contacts are separated by a slot 384 to permit their corresponding indicator means to enter the slot during motion of the carriage 340a to the right, FIG. 8. A second pair of contacts 385 and 386 are stepped back in relationship to the forward edges of contacts 378 and 379, contact 385 being pivoted on pin 381 and resting on ledge 377. Contact 386 is pivoted on a pin 387 fast to part 354 and rests on a ledge 388 forming part of an extension 389 shorter than either extensions 374 and 375. A slot 390 separates the extensions and contacts to allow their corresponding indicator means to enter the slot. A third pair of contacts 393 and 394 are stepped back relative to the forward edges of contacts 385 and 386, contact 393 being pivoted on pin 387. Contact 394 is pivoted to a pin 395 and rests on a ledge 396 on a fourth extension 397 of the same length as extension 389. A slot 398 separates the extensions and contacts to permit their indicator means to enter the slot. A surface 399 engages the button of an indicator means and acts as the contact therefor.

Since there are only four indicator means in the present instance, it is unnecessary to provide pivotal contacts for the fourth indicator means, hence the use of surface 399. As mentioned before, the invention is not limited to only four indicator means and that more or less may be utilized. The stepped down relationship of the contacts accounts for variable reciprocations of the carriage which occurs depending upon which indicator means has been raised and which contacts are to engage their corresponding raised indicator means, i.e. the normal throw of cam 349 is such to permit surface 399 to engage its indicator means while allowing the remaining contacts to move beyond their indicator means due to the described slots in part 354. However, if any of the remaining indicator means have been raised, the carriage which rises when an indicator means does will have foreshortened variable reciprocations due to the telescopic means 344 and according to which indicator means has been raised so that the contacts may be opposite to their button 329.

As viewed in FIGS. 4 and 7, the left-hand end of carriage part 354 has depending therefrom a rigid strap 400 to engage and operate the aforedescribed spring pressed push and pull cable 84 as at 85. The strap is of sufficient length to remain in engagement with the cable at 85 when the carriage is raised by any of the indicator means. The memory means may be between the winder and the sensing means to store the significations of weft exhaustion.

The electric circuit The previously mentioned cam 349, FIGS. 7 and 39, has a decline 404 to move block 340 to its extreme position to the left, FIG. 24, away from the indicator means, and a rise 405 to move block 340 to its extreme position to the right, see FIG. 7, toward the indicator means to enable carriage 340:: to contact either of the indicator means. Cam 349 has a dwell 406 between decline 404 and rise 405 to hold the carriage in contact with the indicator means. The action of the decline 404 via block 340 and push and pull cables 84, 99, 220 permits the weft feeding means 64, stop 88, and cam plate 214 to return to their normal positions and rise 405 acts to move the feeding means to the weft pick-up station to stopping position and the cam plate to bobbin distributing position in accordance with the stepped down relationship of part 354 described hereinbefore. The cam has thereon a lug 407 to actuate a switch 408 for a purpose to be described in relationship to the circuit shown in FIG. 45. At the end of the traverse of the feeding means, the latter will be effective to move switch 116a to stop the winding of a bobbin.

Referring now to FIG. 45, a source of power 409 is transmitted to left and right power lines 411 and 412 respectively between which a main circuit generally indicated at 410 is connected. The circuit 410a shown in the upper left-hand corner is utilized with the main circuit only when the modified form of the invention, FIG. 47, to be described, is employed. The main circuit operates when an indicator means moves from nonindicating position to indicating position, and since all of the indicators function in the same manner, it is deemed only necessary to relate only one of the indicator means with respect to the circuit, namely, indicator 305.

Assuming now that a bobbin has been depleted in the shuttle corresponding to indicator means 305, the latter will be moved to indicating position to close switch 309 to start motor 46 to initiate a winding cycle by completion of the following circuit: power line 411, previously described, switch 309, contact 413, line 414, switch blade 415 of switch 408, line 416, one rotation clutch 350, line 417, blade 418 of switch S, and line 419 to power line 412. Upon completion of the circuit just described, clutch 350 and its cam 349 will have one revolution and lug 407 will throw switch 408 to the dotted line position and clutch 350 will be deenergized. The action of cam 349 during one revolution will be as described above, the dwell also acting to allow time to set an empty bobbin in the spindle cup 60 for a weft winding operation.

When switch'408 is moved to the dotted line position, the following circuit will be completed: line 411, switch 309, contact 413, line 414, switch 415 in dotted line position, line 420, clutch 138, line 423, switch arm 424, line 425 back to power line 412. At the completion of the following circuit just described, clutch 138 and its cam 135 will have one revolution and lug 139 will throw switch 140 to the dotted line position and clutch 138 will be deenergized. Cam 139 will effect operation of the weft pick-up means 146 to grasp a selected weft at the weft pick-up station 82 and present the weft to an empty bobbin for winding the weft thereon, the weft releasing means acting to release the selected weft incident to weft pick-up, all during the dwell period of cam 349.

When switch 140 is thrown to the dotted line position, the following circuit will be completed: line 411, switch 16 309, contact 413, switch blade 427 of switch 116a, line 428, winding spindle 60, line 429, switch blade 424 in dotted line position, line 425 back to power line 412. The following circuit just described will start the rotation of spindle cup 60 to wind weft on the empty bobbin held by the spindle cup.

After the bobbin has been wound, the weft feeding means 64 at the end of its traverse will cause actuation of switch S to throw switch blades 418 and 427 to the dotted line position to complete the following circuit: line 411, switch 309, contact 413, line 426, switch blade 427 in dotted line position, line 416, clutch 350, line 417, switch blade 430 in dotted line position, line 433 to power line 412. Completion of the circuit just described will stop the winding operation and cam 108 will act to clamp the winding weft to the weft feeding means 64 followed by cutting of the weft by cutter 109, after which the wound bobbin will be discharged from the winder. Clutch 350 will be energized to repeat its previously described operation of having one revolution and cam 349 will have a partial rotation to start to move the carriage 340a to its extreme left-hand position, FIG. 24. However, just as soon as the carriage loses contact with the indicator means 305, the latter will return'to non-indicating position and switch 309 will be opened resulting in the deenergization of clutch 350 and stopping of cam 349 to prevent an unwanted winding operation. Thus, the winding cycle for one indication of a need to wind a bobbin will be completed and the Winder will remain idle until another indication is given. It is to be understood that although cam 349 has been given a partial resolution, the next indication will complete the remainder of the revolution to start another winding operation. It is also to be noted that the operation of the complete circuit described above will apply to any of the indicator means 302-304 as well as to 305 described in conjunction with the circuit.

In the event of a second indication by another indicator means 302-304, for example, indicator means 304, the-re will be no effect on the main circuit 413 since switch 309 is still closed due to the fact that indicator means 305 is still partially up and in contact with switch 309. When the weft feeding means from the first indication contacts switch 1160:, it will be thrown over to the dotted line position and the spindle cup 60 will stop.

Upon movement of the switch 116a to thedotted line position the following circuit will be completed: line 411, switch 309 which is closed due to the second indicator means 304, contact 413, line 426, switch blade 427 in dotted line position, line 416, clutch 350, line 417, blade 430 in dotted lines, line 433 back to power line 412. Upon completion of that circuit, the cam 349 completes a revolution as with the first indication to move the carriage away from and toward the indicator means 304 to engage same and in doing so locate the weft feeding means, the stop therefor and the bobbin distributing means to their selective positions in accordance with the selected weft to be wound corresponding to indicator means 304. Upon completion of the revolution of clutch 350 and its cam 349, lug 407 will actuate switch 408 to throw the blades 415 and 430 to the full :line position, whereupon the clutch will be deenergized and rotation thereof and its cam halted.

Upon completion of the circuit just described, the following circnit will be completed: line 411, closed switch 309, contact 413, line 440, switch blade 441 in dotted position, line 420, clutch 138, line 423, blade 430 in full line position, line 433 back to power line 412. Upon completion of the circuit just described, clutch 138 and its cam will have one revolution to effect weft pickup of the selected weft by the weft pick-up means 146 and release of the selected weft by the release means 76 incident to weft pick-up. Thereafter lug 139 will actuate switch 140 to throw blades from the dotted li p i to the full line position, whereupon clutch 138 will be deenergized,

Completion of the circuit just described will result in the following circuit: line 411, closed switch 309, contact 413, line 440, switch blade 441, line 428, clutch 60 to energize same, line 429, switch blade 418 in dotted position, line 419 to power line 412. Upon completion of the circuit just described, the spindle cup will be rotated for a Weft winding operation. At the end of the winding of a bobbin, the weft feeding means will effect actuation of switch 116a to throw the blades 418 and 429 to the full line position, whereupon the spindle cup 60 will stop rotating and the bobbin discharge from the winder to be guided by the bobbin distributor means to the proper compartment in the magazine.

After the switch 116a has been thrown to the full position the following circuit will be completed: line 411, closed switch 309, contact 413, line 414, blade 415 in full line position, line 416, clutch 350, line 417, blade 418 in full line position, line 419 back to power line 412. Upon completion of the circuit just described, clutch 350 will be energized and its cam 349 Will rotate to move carriage away from indicator means 304 and the latter will return to its normal nonindicating position with the result of opening switch 309 whereupon the clutch will be deenergized and the latter and its cam will have had only a partial revolution and as in the case of the first indication for indicator means 305. Opening of switch 309 and deenergization of clutch 350 will stop the winding cycle for the second indication relative to indicator means 3057 It is to be understood that additional indication by the remaining indicator means and also again by indicator means 305 will cause the main circuit 410 to function as described with respect to indicator means 30 4.

Switch 309, block 340, clutch 350 and its cam 349, weft feeding means 64, stop means 88, cam plate means 214, the circuit described to place the three means in selective positions, and the cables 84, 99 and 220 may be considered as first control means. Clutch 138 and its cam 125, and lug 139 on cam 125 may be considered as second ontrol means responsive to said first control means to effect operation of the weft pick-up means and weft releasing means and also to effect starting of a bobbin winding operation.

The modified forms of the invention In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 46, most of the parts will be the same as in the preferred form of the invention and therefore the same reference numerals are utilized for the parts as in the preferred form of the invention. In carrying the modified form of the invention into effect, the previously described pivot 272 mounts thereon a short pusher lever 446 operatively engageable with end 447 of a spring biased push and pull cable between the memory means and the weft replenishing magazine and generally designated at 448. The core 449 is normally urged to the left by a return spring 450 to maintain end 447 against pusher lever 446, the latter being fast on pivot 272 such that when transport arm moves downwardly the lever 446 will move clockwise to push the core 449 to the right against the force of spring 450. The right hand end of cable 448 is mounted on a stand 452 bolted to the aforedescribed shelf 283. The core 449 has attached thereto a washer 453 to compress a force transmitting spring 454 to move a short tube 455 when lever 446 is rotated clockwise, the core capable of moving into the tube to absorb any excess motion of the :core. Tube 455 is connected to the upper end of a link 456 as at 457, the lower end of the link being connected to the previously described pivotal guide means 263 as at 458. Whenever the transport arm moves to effect a weft replenishing or bobbin transferring operation, the core 449 will move to the right to cause rotation of indicator moving means 263 and latch 300 to effect movement of an indicator means 302-305, only one being illustrated, to indicating position to signify a need for a winding operation of a bobbin corresponding to that removed from the magazine for the bobbin transferring operation, the indicator means when moved to indicating position initiating a winding cycle to wind the corresponding bobbin as described in the description of the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 45. Latch 300 will be selectively shifted by lever 286 to be opposite the indicator means corresponding to the active shuttle and the corresponding bobbin as in the preferred form of the invention. The modification in FIG. 45 may be utilized, if desired, in place of sensing means 20 to signal the winder at need for a bobbin winding operation.

As in FIG. 45, most of the parts shown in FIG. 47 of the second modified form of the invention will utilize the same reference number as in the preferred form of the invention. In carrying the second modified form of the invention, each compartment 187-190 is respectively provided at the top thereof with a normally open switch 460, 461, 462 and 463. The switches are connected to the source of power 409 and also respectively to normally open switches 464, 465, 466 and 467 which in turn are connected to normally closed switches 468, 469, 470 and 471, each of the latter switches being connected to a solenoid 473 having a wire 474 connected to the-source of power 409 and having a core 475 operatively connected to the indicator moving means 263 to rotate same when the solenoid is energized.

The main purpose of the modified form in FIG. 47 is to indicate a need for a bobbin winding operation whenever the uppermost bobbin of any compartment is removed manually as shown for instance with respect to compartment 187. Assuming now that the uppermost bobbin has been removed from compartment 187 as shown, the following circuit will be completed: power line 411, line 476, switch 460 now closed, line 477, closed switch 464, line 478, closed switch 468, line 469 to solenoid 473, line 474 to power line 412. Switch 464 will be closed by reason of lever 286 due to the rocking thereof as set forth in the preferred form of the invention.

Upon completion of the circuit just described, the solenoid 475 will be energized to rotate indicator moving means and latch 300 from a normal position to move indicator means 305 from non-indicating position to indicating position to close switch 309 to initiate winding cycle by energizing motor 46. The main circuit 410 will then function as described according to the previous indication of indicator means 305 with respect to the preferred form of the invention and it is deemed unnecessary to repeat the description of the operation of the main circuit. Moving of indicator means 305 to indicating position will open switch 468 to break the circuit, thereby deenergizing solenoid 473 to permit return of latch 300 to its normal position. The function of the remaining switches 461 to 463 and the indicator means 302-305 will be same as described with respect to indicator means 305 and it is believed unnecessary to describe each function for each remaining switch and indicator means. The modified form of the invention will not interfere with the operation of the preferred form since moving of indicator means 305 therein by cable 261 to indicating position will open switch 468 to break the circuit to prevent energization of solenoid 473 even though switch 460 is closed due to relinquishment of a bobbin from compartment 187 as set forth in the preferred form of the invention.

Referring now to the third modified form of the invention, FIGS, 50 to 56, and particularly to FIG. 50, the reserve bobbin magazine is generally indicated by the reference numeral 500. It is to be noted that since many of the parts in the third form of the invention will be the same as in the preferred form of the invention, the parts will have the same reference numerals as those in the preferred form.

In FIG. 50, each compartment 187490 is respectively provided with upper and lower switches, compartment 187 having switches 501 and 502, compartment 188 having switches 503 and 504, compartment 189 having 

1. IN A MULTI-WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM OPERATING WITH A PLURALITY OF SHUTTLES EACH CARRYING A WEFT BOBBIN DIVERSE WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER BOBBINS AND REPLENISHABLE UPON DEPLETION THEREOF WITH A WEFT BOBBIN CORRESPONDING TO THAT DEPLETED, (A) A MULTI-WEFT WINDER ON THE LOOM RESPONSIVE TO SAID DEPLETION TO WIND BOBBINS TO PROVIDE A SUPPLY OF WOUND BOBBINS FOR EACH TYPE OF DIVERSE BOBIN UPON DEPLETION THEREOF, (B) MEMORY MEANS TO INITIATE A BOBBIN WINDING CYCLE UPON SAID DEPLETION, 